The Polk County High Cross Country teams raced a preconference 5K at Jackson Park on Thursday, Oct. 2 with eight other schools. The Lady Wolverines, with two of their top five runners returning from injury, put three in the top ten overall and won the meet with 36 points. The boys’ team had two of its top five runners run career personal records and both Mitchell Brown (18:07 third) and Jacob Wolfe (18:15 fourth) finished in the top five overall.

The girls’ team had its strongest race of the season with 13 of 15 runners posting personal record times. India Godlock (21:21), sidelined the last three races with injury, placed second and Emily Kocher (22:12) was fourth. After being out for injury for three weeks, Hayley Kropp (23:42) placed ninth ran a personal best. Both Savannah Robbins (24:09 13th) and Haley Fowler (24:11 14th) had career personal bests and rounded out the five-member team scoring drive for the Wolverines.

Also competing for the Wolverines; Alli Swope (25:00 26th), Shelby Wells (25:02 27th), Ashton Capozzi (25:02 28th), Leah Hardin (25:13, 31st), Sophie Young (25:31, 37th), Karli Wood (26:36 49th), Haven Dufford (26:37 50th) and Jessica Bailey (31:01 66th).

Girls’ team scores: Polk 36, North Buncombe 72, Hendersonville 81, Asheville Home School 175, Veritas Christian 186, Erwin, Madison, Robbinsville.

The boys’ team, plagued with injuries, dug deep into its roster to place fifth overall. With three runners in the top five at the two mile mark of the 3.1-mile race, Polk
leader Sean Doyle would drop out after 2.5 miles from injury. Team members Brown and Wolfe would both come close to their career goal of running under 18
minutes and would hold on to help Polk be the only team to put multiple runners in the top five finishers. Rounding out the top five scorers for Polk: Al Russell (19:43
14th), Jake Russell (21:17 25th) and Luke Collins (29:21 67th).

Boys’ team scores: Robbinsville 60, Madison 74, Hendersonville 77, North Buncombe 95, Polk 113, Asheville Homeschool 150, Erwin 206, Cannongate 258,
Veritas.

Polk will be in action Wednesday, Oct. 15 at Jackson Park for the Western Highlands Conference Championships.

-article submitted by Jenny Wolfe